Congressional Approval Hits Another All-Time Low - Political Hotsheet

As Congress heads toward another possible stalemate over extending the payroll tax cut, a new Gallup poll shows that congress’ approval rating is at a new all-time low of 10 percent.

According to the poll, 86 percent of Americans disapprove of the job Congress is doing. That figure ties the all-time high in congressional disapproval set in December, according to Gallup.

The survey, conducted between Feb. 2-5, reflects a growing sense of dissatisfaction with an often deadlocked Congress. In 2011, the average congressional approval rating in Gallup polling was 17 percent — the lowest yearly average the polling company has ever recorded. And it got worse as the year went on: Starting in May, the figure trended downward, hitting the previous low of 11 percent in December 2011.

Last year, the highest congressional approval rating recorded was 24 percent.